MG Motor to collaborate with Indian tech-start-ups

MG Motor India is looking to collaborate with technology start-ups in India, and is open to various opportunities that will bring additional synergies to its business.

SAIC Motor Corporation the largest automobile manufacturer in China and the first Chinese-automotive brand to foray in India had announced its plans to enter the market with its British automotive marque ‘MG’, on June 28, 2017.

MG, which inked an MoU with the Gujarat government on July 5, is to initially invest Rs 2,000 crore in the plant, the bulk of which will go in for the acquisition and refurbishing. The plant will have a capacity of 80,000 units per annum in the first phase. MG Motor India will roll out its first product from the plant in 2019. The full revamp of the facility, which is spread across 170 acres, is slated to be completed by 2019. The company has already hired an initial workforce of 70 employees at the plant.

It aims to bring additional synergies to its automotive business in the coming years, especially in the areas of telematics and manufacturing. “India is home to a number of entrepreneurs and innovative minds, who choose to go the start-up route, including the mobility space. As part of MG’s commitment to build a culture of constant innovation, we are open to exploring various opportunities for collaborating with any technology start-up that brings additional synergies to our business,” says Rajeev Chaba, president and MD, MG Motor India.

In its first-step towards this, it has joined hands with TiE Delhi, a non-profit association that mentors start-up founders, by launching the ‘MG Drives Innovation’ programme. Under this programme, the selected start-ups will be invited to engage in any of the three models:

Developer program: For companies at concept or MVP (minimal viable product) stage.

Accelerator Program: For companies whose products/solutions or any aspect(s) of business need refinement, and who can benefit from deep-engaged mentoring by domain experts.

Partner program: For companies whose products are ready for market, we will help integrate their solutions into MG Motor India’s business or assist in taking to market in the most appropriate manner.

For ensuring that the programme delivers value to the company as well as participating start-ups, it has identified specific problem areas and potential opportunities, so that the solutions identified are easier to be launched in the market for the end-customers.

For more details on the programme, visit http://mgmotor.co.in/innovation